TorontoToronto, the capital of Ontario and Canada´s largest metropolis, is located on the northwestern shore of the vast Lake Ontario. This busy city consists of 6 districts, Old Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, and York and the Borough of East York, that were amalgamated in 1998 to form the mega-city of Toronto. All these different neighbourhoods have their own vibe going on. Get yourself an apartment rental in the quiet streets of leafy Scarborough or maybe a bed and breakfast in Downtown to be closer to the action. Wherever you stay, you´ll not be far from some form of entertainment or a green space in this city of many parks!

Fun Facts

Until sand-blasting was invented, every building in the city was the colour of coal soot.

Toronto´s name is derived from the Iroquois word “tkaronto” and first appeared on a French map as “Lac de Taranteau”.

Toronto has over 8,000 restaurants with some of them encouraging a 20% tip...just so you know!

Well known funnymen Mike Myers, Jim Carrey and Eugene Levy are all from Toronto.

There are over 70 film festivals held in Toronto, the largest being the Toronto International Film Festival...that´s a lot of celebrity footfall!

Things to Do

There´s plenty to do and see in this thriving town, with many outdoor activities for the summer and indoor shopping and performances for the winter to keep you busy any time of year!1) Head to the Distillery District, which is a pedestrianised area dedicated to the arts with shops, restaurants and galleries to enjoy.2) If you fancy a spot of exclusive shopping and fine dining, then it´s Yorkville you should be heading to. For high street shopping, head to Queen Street West, also a good place to pick up some locally produced goods and souvenirs.3) Toronto´s Chinatown in Downtown is one of the largest in North America and is a great place to find authentic Asian foods. Little India on Gerrard Street is a lively South-Asian community, while Koreatown off Yonge Street has a great variety of retail stores, restaurants and karaoke bars catering to the population of recent immigrants and young visa students from South Korea.4) For a great day out with the kids how about a visit to Toronto Zoo or Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada? A visit to either will take up several hours of your day, so come prepared with snacks!5) Toronto has a range of theatres to suit every budget, such as the Princess of Wales Theatre or the Royal Alexandra Theatre, and you can catch some top-notch dance performances at the National Ballet of Canada and the Four Season´s Centre for the Performing Arts. Classical music lovers should check out the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Roy Thompson Hall.6) After all that culture it´s time for some socialising and nightlife. Most of Toronto´s nightlife is situated on the aptly named Clubland on Queen Street West, with some of the newer and more expensive clubs situated in the Liberty Village area. There are also a number of microbreweries worth checking out to quench that post-sightseeing thirst.

Getting Around

THe best way to reach the city centre from Toronto Pearson Airport is not by taxi, as this can be rather costly, but rather via the local public transport system, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), which consists of subways, street cars (trams) and buses. You can buy daily or monthly passes, and other tickets, at the TTC service stations usually located at the major subway stations. An alternative to public transport is to discover Toronto by foot. Pack some good walking shoes and take a long stroll down the waterfront, or start in North York and explore the miles of parkland with streams and rivers that stretch throughout the city.

Accommodation in Toronto

Toronto has its fair share of hotels, with over 35,000 hotel rooms on offer, but for an accommodation experience that takes you into the life of a real-life Torontonian, consider getting one of the many apartments for rent on offer with Wimdu. Toronto is split into many different neighbourhoods, all with their own vibe. You might want to choose an accommodation rental or bed and breakfast in walking distance to the city centre, or perhaps near some of the many parks. A self-catering Wimdu apartment has the great advantage of not only being able to grab some ingredients and cook at home, but your host can also give you some great tips about the city you might not otherwise have heard about.